Marques Colston Official Website

Colston Charities was established in 2006 by Marques Colston of the New Orleans Saints.  Over the years, Marques has seen and interacted with many of the underprivileged children in his own community of Harrisburg, PA, as his parents took in and cared for dozens of foster children.  After Marques was drafted to the New Orleans Saints in the spring of 2006, one of his first decisions was to create a non-profit organization to give support and a voice to these very special youth.  Colston Charities was created with one simple idea in mind: it is the responsibility of a community and its citizens to help support and better enrich the lives of our own underprivileged children, and in turn, strengthening that community.

 

Today, in our own communities, neglected, abused, and underprivileged children are fighting an epic battle: the fight for their future.  Colston Charities is dedicated to helping these children realize their gifts, dreams, and potential and providing the tools and opportunities necessary for our children to win this fight.

 

Colston Charities was established in 2006 by Marques Colston of the New Orleans Saints dedicated to the enrichment of the lives of foster children and other underprivileged children in our community.  Every day we see and interact with children who are currently in the foster care system or are underprivileged, and may never know it.  However, many will never know of the heart ache and lack of self-confidence these children face.  Our goal is to provide programs, education, and funding within our own communities to erase these thoughts.  Our motto at Colston Charities is “The Last Shall Be First.”  We believe that with your help, we can be a stronger community and better support our underprivileged children.

 

 

The 1^st Annual Marques Colston Charity Weekend was held June 8-10, 2007 in Harrisburg, PA to establish the Marques Colston – Dauphin County CYS College Fund.  This first annual charity event was highlighted with a bowling tournament, two autograph signings, celebrity basketball game, celebrity birthday bash, and community fun day.  Marques Colston and several other nationally recognized sports and entertainment figures participated in the events and helped to raise $12,000 for the Marques Colston – Dauphin County CYS College Fund.  Because of the generosity of corporate and local business sponsors, and the community, Colston Charities was able to establish the Marques Colston – Dauphin County Children and Youth Services College Fund, which will benefit the foster children in Dauphin

County, PA who wish to attend a 2-4 year college.  Colston Charities presented a check in the amount of $12,000.00 to the Dauphin County Commissioners and Children and Youth Services on August 29, 2007 from the proceeds from the 1^st Annual Marques Colston Charity Weekend.

 

Hoops For Hope Basketball Team Sponsors:  Members 1^st Federal Credit Union, 7-Eleven

Official Media Sponsor:  WHP (CBS 21)

Official Radio Sponsors:  1400AM The Touch/HOT 92

Official Hotel Sponsor:  Hilton Harrisburg and Towers

Official Snack Food Sponsor:  HERR’S

Touchdown Sponsors:  Perfection Cleaning Services, Dicks Sporting Goods, Bobby Rahal Automotive Group

1^st Down Sponsors:  Giant Foods, Harrisburg Magazine

2^nd Down Sponsors:  Pelle Pelle, Patron, Sneaker Villa, ABC North Lanes, Friendship Community Center

3^rd Down Sponsors:  REACH Foundation, Harrisburg Awards, Pep Boys, Sprint, Macy’s, Goodwin Memorial Baptist Church, Comfort Inn East

Other Supporters:  Bank of America, Big 33, Music Man, Mr. Mikes Records, PA State Foster Parent Association, Harrisburg School District, Susquehanna Township School District, Kokomos.

 

FUNDS RAISED: 

Because of the generosity of the corporate and local business sponsors, and the community, Colston Charities was able to raise over $30,000.  The proceeds from the event were used to establish the Marques Colston – Dauphin County CYS College Fund, which will benefit the foster children in Dauphin County, PA who will attend a 2-4 year college. Colston Charities presented a check in the amount of $12,000.00 to the Dauphin County Commissioners and Children and Youth Services on August 29, 2007 from the proceeds from the 1^st Annual Marques Colston Charity Weekend

 

CELEBRITY PARTICIPANTS:

(Andre Iguodala- Philadelphia 76ers; Wesley Jonathan-Roll Bounce, Cross Over; Lynn Greer-Milwaukee Bucks; Lance Johnstone- Oakland Raiders; Khalil Kain- Girlfriends, Juice; Willie Colon- Pittsburgh Steelers; Trai Essex- Pittsburgh Steelers; Antwon Tanner- Coach Carter, One Tree Hill; Alphonso McAuley- Pride, Glory Road; Devale Ellis- Detroit Lions; Damaine Radcliff- Glory Road, Step Up; Nana Gbewonyo- Coach Carter; Michael B. Jordan- The Wire, Hard Ball; Charlie Adams- Houston Texans; Hank Poteat- New York Jets)

 

The 2^nd Annual Marques Colston Charity Weekend will take place June 18-22, 2008 in Harrisburg, PA and will benefit the Marques Colston – Dauphin County CYS College Fund.  In addition to the college fund, which was established in August 2007, the proceeds from this event will fund several new and upcoming programs benefiting the children in Marques’ home town community, to include the Nativity School and the Memorial James R. Colston Jr. Scholarship.  Continuing with last year’s star studded events, nationally recognized sports and entertainment celebrities have been invited (Andre Iguodala, Terrell Owens, Ray Lewis, L.J. Smith, Willie Colon, Joe Horn, Alphonso McAuley, Wesley Jonathan, and many others) to participate in our annual event to help raise funds to benefit the children of the Harrisburg region.

 

Wednesday June 18, 2008:  X-Box Tournament

Thursday June 19, 2008:  Press Conference

Thursday June 19, 2008:  Mini Football Clinic 

Thursday June 19, 2008:  VIP Reception

Friday June 20, 2008:  Celebrity Golf Tournament

Friday June 20, 2008:  Celebrity After Party

Saturday June 21, 2008:  Autograph Signing

Saturday June 21, 2008:  Hoops for Hope (Celebrity Basketball Game)

Sunday June 22, 2008:  Community Concert

 

Spring 2008:  Fashion Show (Harrisburg Country Club)

May 2008:  National Foster Care Month Gala (location TBD)

May 2008:  Dedication/Presentation of the Memorial James R. Colston Scholarship (Susquehanna Township High School)